Drawer construction for reading chairs



P 1953 L. J. FITZGERALD 2,652,887

DRAWER CONSTRUCTION FOR READING CHAIRS Filed May 5, 1950 a J a 18 36' a? .9 1116 \k\\ fi INVENTOR. Lucmu J. Fn-z GERALD BY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 22, 1953 2,652,887 DRAWER CONSTRUCTION FOR READING CHAIRS Lucian J. FitzGerald, Waterloo, Iowa Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,144

1 Claim. l

My invention relates to improvements in reading chairs.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a reading chair which is highly simplified, comfortable, inexpensive to build and very easy to manipulate.

A further object is to provide an improved reading chair including a novel sliding drawer having a top or cover which is removable for use as an adjustable support or table for books and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reading chair embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevatio-nal view of the chair, parts in section, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a sliding drawer and associated elements removed.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral Ii) designates generally my reading chair which preferably comp-rises a broad substantially horizontal upholstered seat portion I I and wide upstanding slightly rearwardly inclined upholstered back I2, as shown. The chair It has front and rear pairs of legs I3 and I4 connected by longitudinal horizontal brace bars I5, spaced below the bottom of the seat portion H, as shown. The chair further comprises generally horizontal parallel arms I8, spaced above the seat portion It and having their forward ends rigidly secured to the tops of the front legs I3, the rear ends of the arms being rigidly secured to the back I2 in any conventional manner. The forward ends of the arms l6 are preferably arranged at elevations slightly above the rear ends of the arms, but this is not necessary. The arms I6 are provided in their inner opposed vertical sides with substantially horizontal straight longitudinal grooves I'I, spaced a slight distance below the top faces of the arms and extending through the forward ends of the arms. The rear ends of the grooves I'I preferably terminate a substantial distance forwardly of the back I2, as shown. The grooves I! are parallel and arranged at the same elevation.

A pair of straight transverse parallel L- the guide rails 2 shaped braces or guide rails i8 extend between the longitudinal brace bars I 5 and have their opposite ends rigidly secured to the brace bars I5, the guide rails l8 being spaced apart laterally and having their bottom horizontal flanges l9 flush with the tops of the brace bars l5 as shown. The forward and rear guide rails I8 are preferably spaced substantially equidistantly from the front and rear legs I3 and M, respectively.

Slidably mounted between the guide rails I8 and upon the bottom horizontal flanges I9 thereof is an elongated transverse rectangular drawer or box 20, which extends for the entire width of the chair and throughout the entire length of I8. The box 2!] includes vertical end walls 2!, both of which are equipped with knobs 22 so that the drawer 29 may be drawn from beneath either side of the seat II. The drawer 20 further comprises opposed vertical side walls 23, having narrow longitudinal elongated straight flanges or portions 24 which project above the top edges of the end walls 2! as shown, for forming opposed parallel horizontal shoulders 25 which extend throughout the entire length of the drawer 20.

A combined flat table board and drawer cover 26 is provided, and adapted to be slidably mounted between the upstanding flanges 24 of the drawer and seated upon the shoulders 25 thereof. The combined table board and drawer cover 26 has the same length as the drawer 20 and its opposite walls are flush with the ends 2| when it is applied to the drawer as a cover. Like the drawer 2D, the combined table board and drawer cover 26 may be withdrawn from beneath the seat I I at either side of the chair. When applied to the drawer 20, the board 26 is spaced a slight distance below the bottom of the seat II, as shown. The board 26 is provided in its opposite ends and top with straight parallel tra verse grooves or recesses 21 forming transverse narrow end tongues 28 which are adapted to slidably engage within the grooves ll of the arms. When the board 26 is removed from the drawer 2i! and the tongues 23 introduced into the grooves I I, the top surface of the board 26 is flush with the tops of the arms I 5, Figure 2 When applied to the arms I6, the table board 26 is adjustable longitudinally of the arms throughout the length of the grooves I7.

In use, books, magazines, papers and the like are stored in the drawer 2!), and the board 26 forms a cover for the drawer to aid in keeping the material within the drawer clean. When it is desired the read, the drawer 20 is withdrawn from beneath the seat H at either side of the chair, and the board 26 is removed from the drawer and applied to the arms of the chair, as shown dotted in Figure 1. Reading material can then be taken from the drawer 20 and placed upon the table board 26 which constitutes a convenient support for the reading material. Further, the table board 26 forms a convenient support or table for snacks, writing material and the like.

My chair is highly simplified, compact and sturdy and durable in construction. It is very comfortable and constitutes an ideal locale for reading and the like.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangements of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a reading chair of. the type having a seat portion, a, transversely slidable drawer, means slidably supporting the drawer on the chair beneath said seat portion, said drawer being slidably shiftable endwise to extend beyond either side of the seat portion to provide access to the interior of the drawer, said drawer having side 4 walls having upper portions projecting above the end walls, the facing sides of said portions being formed with grooves, a board having side edges slidably and supportably engaged in the drawer side wall grooves and normally covering the drawer, said board being positioned in the space between said drawer and the seat portion, said board being slidable on the drawer while engaged in the grooves thereof to expose contents of the drawer while the drawer is extended beyond a side of the chair.

LUCIAN J. FITZGERALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 137,738 Trevitt Apr. 8, 1873 183,323 Park et al Oct. 17, 1876 210,487 Bovey Dec. 3, 1878 272,434 Hathaway Feb. 20, 1883 520,284 Wonson et a1 May 22, 1894 607,905 Wyngoard July 26, 1898 834,988 Mallory Nov. 6, 1906 1,108,082 Pennock Aug. 18, 1914 1,325,630 Fair Dec. 23, 1919 2,027,154 Derman Jan. 7, 1936 2,274,506 Streit Feb. 24, 1942 

